The publication of this report will help move the discussions on agricultural mechanization from being on the banks to the mainstream of the debate on agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa. Now is the “Time for a New Look” at agricultural mechanization in this region.

Tthese proceedings synthesise the deliberations of the iii world congress on conservation agriculture held in nairobi from 3 to 7 october 2005. the proceedings are published at a time when soaring food and energy prices have severely impacted on the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers and many more consumers....

Agricultural production remains the main source of livelihood for rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, providing employment to more than 60 percent of the population and contributing about 30 percent of gross domestic product. With likely long-term changes in rainfall patterns and shifting temperature zones, climate change is expected to significantly...

Soil type and the effect of management on the condition of the soil are important determinants of the production performance of orchards and have profound effects on long-term profits. Land managers need tools that are reliable, quick and easy to use in order to help them assess the condition of...

This study analyzes five marine protected areas (MPAs) in South Africa, which span three of the country’s four coastal provinces, namely, the Langebaan Lagoon MPA, the Maputaland MPA, the St Lucia MPA, the Tsitsikamma MPA and the Mkambati MPA. A biological, conservation-oriented fisheries science dominates the agendas of these MPAs....

This study on marine protected areas (MPAs) in Mexico relies on a variety of data sources as well as the authors’ longstanding field experience, particularly in the Yucatan Peninsula, to analyze the design, establishment, and operation of protected areas. The study aims to provide an overview of how local stakeholders...

Direct marketing of dairy products.

Recent increases in the levels and volatility of food prices have created significant challenges to efforts to reduce levels of food insecurity both at national and household levels. As a result, significant political attention has been given to the promotion of improvements in food staples productivity in developing countries, both...

Organic agriculture has managed to attract the attention of local governments and economic operators and also to find space in discussion platforms and official strategy papers (concluding statement of the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Agriculture, Venice 2003 and the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development, approved in 2005 as part of...

Discusses the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa program, which aims to establish a self-sustained African body of expertise on adaptation through capacity development and strengthening institutions.

El tema general de investigación de esta Tesis se refiere al proceso de expansión de la condición de remuneración entre los “trabajadores familiares” en las unidades familiares de producción agropecuaria de la región pampeana, de la Argentina. Su estudio es de particular interés para el análisis de los cambios sucedidos...

In the first part of this paper, the Concept of "Sustainable Agriculture" is presented and discussed. Then a holistic view of drylands is given, starting with the aridity definition, then the location of drylands around the world. Drylands climate, soils and population are also characterized. The second part of the...

A linear programming (LP) technique was adopted to determine the optimum combination of crops and livestock production on small mixed farms in a newly reclaimed area in Egypt. Three locations reflected the different types of producer; traditional farmers, early retirees, and university graduates. One LP model with two scenarios was...

El propósito de este artículo es compartir los principales hallazgos de un estudio de caso realizado en el marco de mi tesis de grado. En el mismo, analicé la sucesión generacional de diecisiete establecimientos familiares lecheros del departamento de Colonia y Soriano, en base a las opiniones de los distintos...

Au Maroc, l'élevage connaît un regain d'intérêt et, à côté des grandes étables modernes, une intensification, tant chez les pasteurs que chez des petits spéculateurs villageois. L'intégration au marché généralisée n'implique un souci particulier d'amélioration de la qualité que pour une minorité. Des encouragements dans le sens de l'amélioration de...

The paper presents model solutions of the financial consequences of replacing farming tax with income-tax in farms with different types of activity in “Greater Poland and Silesia” region. Farmers from “dairy cattle” farms would in vast majority pay higher income tax than farming tax, the highest in the groups with...

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the importance of agricultural productivity growth for generating employment and alleviating poverty in Egypt. Specifically, it attempts to answer the following questions: How important is agriculture for income and employment generation in rural Egypt? What is the relationship between agricultural productivity and...

The Ifugao Rice Terraces (IRT) of the Central Cordillera Region, Northern Philippines is one of the pilot system of the FAO’s global project Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS1/). Its objective is to promote the dynamic conservation and adaptive management of globally significant agricultural biodiversity harbored in Globally Important Agricultural...

The pastoral system of Syria, like most of West Asia and North Africa, is under stress with growing sheep population and continuous degradation of the rangelands. While the research and development society is strongly promoting community rangeland management in a participative and collaborative way, it is essential to characterize and...

Based on farm panel data we empirically investigate the determinants of Polish farm households’ flexibility from 1994 to 2001. We focus on scale flexibility (adjustment in production volume) and scope flexibility (adjustment in product mix). The findings of our fixed-effects regression provide evidence that smaller farms are more flexible, both...